We’ve decided to expand our coverage on the site, so we’ve invited some talented writers to contribute along the way, including chefs, bartenders, servers, and sommeliers. Feel free to email your ideas to email us with your ideas at restaurantgirl@restaurantgirl.com. Enjoy… By RG writer – Caitlin Decker I don’t think I ever ate a pierogi before moving to Greenpoint, or at least not one worth remembering. I came to Brooklyn from Tucson, Arizona — not exactly known for its pierogi — and was surprised to find that my new home is a mecca for the Polish pierogi. Almost every culture has some type of dumpling: Japan has gyozas, India has samosas, Argentina has empanadas, and Poland has pierogi. (When ordering, ask for pierogi not pierogis. Pierogi is already plural.) I’m officially obsessed with these precious little, piping hot dumplings...

As the cost of running restaurants has become increasingly prohibitive in NYC, culinary talent has continued to migrate elsewhere. Which has led to the emergence of fledgling food hubs such as the increasingly awesome dining destination that is now Portland…

Spring’s just around the corner, but how about getting a jumpstart on summer with a trip to the Jersey Shore? Instead of waiting for bawdy crowds to descend for soft shell crabs & candy apples on the boardwalk, check out what the dynamic, waterfront town has to offer in the off-season during their Local Restaurant Month, taking place now through March 31st…

If your visions of the Jersey Shore are indelibly connected to that show, it might be high time for a visit to Sandy Hook. Not only is it the closest portion of the coast to New York City (less than an hour by car or even less on the Seastreak ferry), it has little to do with the hard partying, fist pumping, Bacardi-fueled bacchanalia, popularly depicted on MTV…

City Island is one of the best-kept not quite secrets among New Yorkers — a quaint fishing village improbably situated on the far-flung banks of the Bronx. And for landlocked urban dwellers, it’s an ideal weekend day trip to savor what’s left of summer…

Who says you need to fly to some exotic, overseas locale this summer? They don’t call Maine “Vacationland” for nothing, and for New Yorkers, it’s only a few hours a way by car, and even less by plane. So if you really want to experience the very best that Maine has to offer — from clamming on the coast to hiking in the mountains — you’ll book your next trip to the Bar Harbor & Acadia area…

A highly urban city not unlike New York, Milan is a capital of fashion, definitely not of food. And yet, impassioned gastronomes have been flocking to the Italian metropolis in force since May, and will doubtless continue to up until October. That’s because it’s home to the Expo Milano 2015 — essentially a World’s Fair of food — featuring more than 140 countries sharing their culinary traditions, and exchanging ideas and innovations for a sustainable, healthy future.

Are you currently freaking out because summer’s almost over, and you haven’t even been to Rockaway beach as many times as you’d like, let alone booked that dream vacation to the white sand shores of Oahu? Well, take a deep breath, because while you can’t exactly hop the subway to a supremely exotic, palm tree-ringed locale, there are actually a number of totally destination-worthy daycation spots (touting seriously awesome eats) located just hours outside of the city…

It’s that time of year. Days are darker, the air colder, New Yorkers surlier. Perhaps we could learn a thing or two about thriving in harsh weather from Northern Europe, namely Sweden, whose citizens rely on two crucial survival tools to endure their long winters: Coffee and pastries. In fact, the Swedes take their coffee culture so seriously that they even have a verb for it, fika, an all-encompassing term for the daily ritual of enjoying time with friends and family over coffee and an accompanying treat. Those looking to get in on the fika fun can acquaint themselves with the tradition at several Swedish cafés in Manhattan and Brooklyn, including Konditori, the aptly named coffee shop Fika, and a cafe hidden inside the Swedish Seaman’s Church in Midtown (yes, it’s a real place!).

I’m not sure what rock I’ve been living under, but I missed the memo about the new additions to the Plaza Food Hall. I knew that Todd English had taken over and installed a swanky food court of his own where you could sit anywhere and order from the sushi counter, raw bar, pasta station, pizza oven and rotisserie. Considering its location and proximity to Central Park, it was bound to be touristy and crowded, but it’s a good solution for diners who can’t decide what to eat for dinner because you can get a little of everything. But the latest additions are a game changer. Living in midtown has always had its drawbacks, which mostly come in the form of overpriced restaurants. It’s not like living in the West Village where a funky, new restaurant with an ambitious...

Harlem is getting a lot of attention these days as one of New York’s most up and coming neighborhoods. New apartment buildings, shops, and the newly opened Aloft Hotel are attracting more residents and visitors everyday. Back in 1999, the Zagat’s New York City Restaurant Guide didn’t even give Harlem a mention in its location section. Ten years later, in 2011, the latest Zagat listings include 35 Harlem restaurants with French, Italian, Mediterranean, New American and soul food offerings. The wealth of new dining and drinking options has put Harlem on the dining map, and not just because of the opening of Red Rooster. Frederick Douglass Boulevard is quickly gaining a reputation as a restaurant row. Here are a few of our favorites. You might want to consider a day trip to maximize your Harlem food tour. Red Rooster...

One of the reasons New York’s such an exciting city is that there are so many different neighborhoods worth exploring, each with their own distinct feel and attractions. Take Astoria for example. It’s a vibrant neighborhood, located in the northwest of Queens, with a constantly evolving food scene. Astoria has long had a reputation for being a Greek enclave with great Greek restaurants to match. But these days, it’s got more than its share of worthy Middle Eastern, Latin American and Northern African restaurants, too. With the recent influx of young New Yorkers to the ‘hood, there’s a whole new crop of restaurants and bars, making it ripe for a food crawl. But where to begin? You might consider starting with an afternoon snack at La Casa del Pan, located on 38th Street near Broadway. This Colombian bakery specializes...

If you thought Williamsburg peaked a few years ago, think again. An exciting new crop of gourmet shops and restaurants has just opened in this stylish Brooklyn neighborhood this fall. Where to begin? Well, there are a few Manhattan imports, including a newly minted Meatball Shop and even a café version of La Esquina for starters. There’s lots of new spots as well, like Pillar and Plough with an open kitchen and a chef’s counter or Noorman’s Kil, a bar, with over 220 whiskies and menu devoted to grilled cheeses. Just when we thought the cupcake trend was tapped out, Brooklyn Cupcake renewed our faith with deliciously unique creations, like a rainbow cookie or a tres leches cupcake. There’s more where that came from this fall in Williamsburg… Pillar and Plough Address: 162 North 12th St. between Beford Ave....

Tribeca has become one of the hottest neighborhoods for restaurant openings this fall. In just the past few months, we’ve seen the doors open at Silver Lining, the Il Matto re-do, White & Church and Matt Abramcyk, new eatery, Tiny’s. That’s just for starters. Sarabeth’s opened their first Tribeca outpost and Jung Sik finally filled the void left when Chanterelle sadly closed its doors. Chef David Bouley has long made Tribeca his preferred ‘hood and this past spring, he debuted his highly anticipated and awaited, kaiseki-style restaurant, Brushstroke. We wonder if the sudden onslaught of new eateries has anything to do with the celebrity power downtown, like Jay-Z and Beyonce or Gwyneth and Chris Martin. We’ll mull it over dinner. Jung Sik Address: 87 Harrison St. at Hudson St. Phone: 212-219-0900 The former Chanterelle space has been empty for...

While we love the diversity of Manhattan, sometimes it’s nice to take a break from the hustle and bustle. There’s almost nothing more relaxing than rolling down the windows and driving down the open road, especially when you know a good meal is the destination. With so many great options so close by, it’s possible to take a complete vacation in just 24 hours. Whether it’s the beach and a burger that you’re craving, or a quaint cozy inn and a glass of rose that helps you relax, we’ve compiled some of our favorite ways to beat the heat outside of the city. Don’t have a car? It’s easy to get to most of the locations via train or bus, so all you need to worry about is where to eat and what to wear. Here’s a few short...

Most New Yorkers think of the South Street Seaport as a crowded tourist destination, best left to out of towners. But just behind the seaport are some often, overlooked restaurants worth discovering. This part of the Seaport is where the real downtown hustle happens. Suteishi Address: 24 Peck Slip Phone: (212)766-2344 Suteishi doesn’t look or taste like your average sushi restaurant. For starters, it’s outfitted with floor to ceiling windows, futuristic walls, and a sleek, red and gold sushi bar. But if the sushi weren’t so fresh, the romantic decor wouldn’t matter, at least not to us. Look past the usual, sushi suspects and take advantage of more unusual offerings, like yellowtail toro, salmon toro and King crab. We highly recommend the red snapper sushi, crowned with yuzu gelatin, squid with uni, and the sea scallop with spicy tobiko. ...

One of the best things about eating out in New York is the boundless number of cuisines to choose from. You could eat a different dish at a different restaurant every night of the year. Of all the boroughs, Queens is the largest and the most ethnically diverse, and while it’s only a few miles wide, New Yorkers can eat as if they’re anywhere in the world. There’s Flushing’s wonderfully spicy Chinese food, Jackson Heights’ mole dishes and even Floral Park’s Indian-style seafood offerings. Chengdu Heaven Address: Golden Mall, Stall 31, 41-28 Main St., Flushing No phone Who would have thought some of the best Sichuan is being made in a basement food stall? But hey, in Queens, anything goes. Chengdu Heaven’s dan dan noodles – a staple of the province where spicy food reigns supreme – is one...

We’ve decided to expand our coverage on the site, so we’ve invited some talented writers to contribute along the way, including chefs, bartenders, servers, and sommeliers. Feel free to email your ideas to email us with your ideas at restaurantgirl@restaurantgirl.com. Enjoy… By RG writer – Caitlin Decker I don’t think I ever ate a pierogi before moving to Greenpoint, or at least not one worth remembering. I came to Brooklyn from Tucson, Arizona — not exactly known for its pierogi — and was surprised to find that my new home is a mecca for the Polish pierogi. Almost every culture has some type of dumpling: Japan has gyozas, India has samosas, Argentina has empanadas, and Poland has pierogi. (When ordering, ask for pierogi not pierogis. Pierogi is already plural.) I’m officially obsessed with these precious little, piping hot dumplings...